Waveform analyzing method and apparatus for physiological parameters

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus are provided for performing waveform analysis on physiological parameters. In one embodiment, a method includes reading measurement values of a first physiological parameter relating to time, and displaying them as a trend display graph in a trend display area that includes first coordinates representing time and second coordinates representing the measurement values. The method also includes acquiring a time selected in the trend display graph, and displaying, in a waveform display area, waveform data of a second physiological parameter associated with formation of the first physiological parameter during periods before and after the selected time. The waveform display area includes time coordinates. The disclosed embodiments allow medical staff to view the curve of a patient&#39;s physiological parameters throughout a monitoring/therapy period. Medical staff may make a detailed analysis of the waveform data in real time, which may provide a basis for making decisions in the following therapy processes.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No.200710077037.4, filed Sep. 11, 2007, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus forperforming waveform analysis of the physiological parameters ofpatients.

SUMMARY

A method and an apparatus are provided for analyzing a waveform ofphysiological parameters. Medical staff may clearly review the curvetendencies of a patient's physiological parameters during an entiremonitoring/therapy period. By storing and processing the data acquiredwhen monitoring and treating the patient, medical staff may makedetailed analyses on the waveform data in real time while viewing thetendencies. Therefore the real-time waveform data may provide a basisfor the medical staff to make decisions for ensuing therapy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a waveform analysis apparatus accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a data generating process according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of data associations according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a waveform analysis method according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a waveform analysis interface accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a trend display area according to oneembodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a waveform display area according toone embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

When patients are in critical condition, doctors may apply emergencytreatments to the patients that include the use ofdefibrillator/monitors. A defibrillator/monitor monitors a patient'sphysiological parameters and stores them during such emergency treatmentfor a doctor's later analysis to prepare for any ensuing therapy or anylater event. However, conventional defibrillator/monitors havedisadvantages including the fact that they generally send patient datato other personal computer (PC) terminals for analysis thereon afterpatient monitoring or therapy occurs. With this approach, however, it isimpossible to provide a diagnostic analysis of the pathologic dataduring a period between therapy procedures, which may delay treatmentfor the illnesses.

Another disadvantage of conventional defibrillator/monitors is that theygenerally do not store a sufficient amount of data for diagnosisanalysis. For example, while medical staff monitor or treat patientswith the defibrillator/monitor, data are generated about the patients(e.g., trend data, waveform data, event data, sound recording data,etc.). During an intermission after the monitoring or therapy, themedical staff can then review and analyze the data stored in the deviceto prepare for the ensuing therapy or later event. However, because thecurrent defibrillation device can store only some of the data, themedical staff cannot review all of the data, and can hardly make acomplete diagnostic analysis on the basis of the pathologic data.

In one embodiment, a method for waveform analysis of physiologicalparameters includes reading measurement values and corresponding timesof a first physiological parameter, and displaying them as a trenddisplay graph in a trend display area of a display device. The trenddisplay area includes first coordinates and a second coordinates thatrepresent the times and the measurement values, respectively. The methodalso includes acquiring a time selected in the trend display graph, anddisplaying, in a waveform display area of the display device, waveformdata of a second physiological parameter associated with the formationof the first physiological parameter during predetermined periods beforeand after the selected time. The waveform display area includes timecoordinates representing waveform time.

In one embodiment, magnitudes of the measurement values of the firstphysiological parameter are represented by lengths of respective lines.The method may also include displaying an end-point gauge at an endpoint of the trend graph. The end-point gauge indicates an end of datacorresponding to the first physiological parameter and may bedynamically moved as time elapses.

In one embodiment, acquiring the selected time includes positioning acursor in the trend display graph at the selected time, receiving thecoordinate position of the cursor, and displaying a time correspondingto the coordinate position of the cursor proximate to the cursor in thetrend display graph. The method may also include displaying a middletime on the time coordinates of the waveform display area that is a timeselected by the cursor. A gauge may also be displayed in the waveformdisplay area for measuring a magnitude of the second physiologicalparameter.

In one embodiment, inputs are received from a scrolling key in thewaveform display area when the waveform display area is in an activestate. The method may alter a time on the time coordinates of thewaveform display area and the waveform data of the second physiologicalparameter corresponding to the time. The method may also alter a time onthe first coordinates of the trend display graph and a measurement valueof the first physiological parameter corresponding to the time inaccordance with the altering of the time on the first coordinates of thewaveform display area.

In one embodiment, the method also includes displaying a pathologicevent identifier at a position corresponding to a time when a pathologicevent takes place, and storing the measurement values of the firstphysiological parameter, the waveform data of the second physiologicalparameter, pathologic event data, and the time corresponding to when thepathologic event takes place. The method may also include setting thetime corresponding to when the pathologic event takes place as a primarykey to build an index logic table including data and time so as toassociate the data during the storing step.

In one embodiment, the method also includes varying a length of thedisplayed waveform data of the second physiological parameter in thewaveform display area according to a user-selectable wave speed, whereinthe faster the wave speed, the shorter a waveform corresponding to thewaveform data displayed in the waveform display area.

In one embodiment, the first physiological parameter is a heart rate,and the second physiological parameter is electrocardiogram data.However, those of skill in the art will recognize that otherphysiological parameters may be analyzed in various embodiments.

An apparatus for waveform analysis of physiological parameters mayinclude a display device configured to display graphs. In oneembodiment, the display device includes a trend display area to displaymeasurement values with respect to time of a first physiologicalparameter. The trend display area includes first coordinates and secondcoordinates that represent times for measuring the first physiologicalparameters and the measurement values, respectively. The display devicealso includes a waveform display area to display waveform data of asecond physiological parameter associated with formation of the firstphysiological parameter. The waveform display area includes timecoordinates representing times for measuring the second physiologicalparameters.

In one embodiment, the apparatus also includes a first physiologicalparameter acquisition unit to acquire measurement values of the firstphysiological parameter and the times thereof, and display them on thetrend display area. The apparatus may also include a time selecting unitto acquire a selected time in the trend display graph, and a secondphysiological parameter acquisition unit to acquire waveform data of thesecond physiological parameter associated with the formation of thefirst physiological parameter during predetermined periods before andafter the selected time thereof, and display them on the waveformdisplay area.

The time selecting unit may include a cursor to select coordinatepositions by allowing a user to move and position the cursor, and acursor monitoring unit to acquire a time corresponding to the cursor'scoordinate position while the cursor moves. The apparatus may furtherinclude a time display unit to display a time acquired by the cursormonitoring unit in the trend display graph.

In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a first scrolling keyinputting unit to receive inputs of a scrolling key in the waveformdisplay area while the waveform display area is in an active state, afirst scrolling key input processing unit to control the secondphysiological parameter acquisition unit according to the inputsreceived by the first scrolling key inputting unit so as to alter a timeon the time coordinates in the waveform display area and the waveformdata of the second physiological parameter corresponding to said time,and a following altering unit to control the first physiologicalparameter acquisition unit so as to alter a time on the firstcoordinates in the trend display graph and the measurement value of thefirst physiological parameter corresponding to said altered time inaccordance with the altering of the time at the time coordinates in thewaveform display area.

The apparatus may further include a pathologic event data acquisitionunit to acquire pathologic event data associated with time, and displaya pathologic event identifier at a position corresponding to the timewhen said pathologic event takes place.

In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a data storage unit tostore the measurement values of the first physiological parameter, thewaveform data of the second physiological parameter, the pathologicevent data, and the corresponding time when the pathologic event takesplace in a storage device, and to set the time as a primary key to buildan index logic table including data and time so as to associate the dataduring the storing.

In another embodiment, a apparatus for waveform analysis ofphysiological parameters includes first physiological parameteracquisition means for acquiring a measurement value of a firstphysiological parameter associated with a time that the measurementvalue is acquired, means for displaying measurement value andcorresponding time in a display device's trend display area, timeselecting means for acquiring a selected time in the trend display area,a second physiological parameter acquisition means for acquiringwaveform data of a second physiological parameter associated withformation of the first physiological parameter during predeterminedperiods before and after the selected time thereof, and means fordisplaying waveform data and in a waveform display area of the displaydevice.

Defibrillators or defibrillator/monitors for treating patients accordingto certain embodiments disclosed herein are provided with high-speedrandom access memory (RAM) and large-capacity, nonvolatile memorycompact flash (CF) cards, which may store a large amount of data.Certain embodiments of the present disclosure use the high-speed memoryin the medical device to record real-time trend data of thephysiological parameters, the waveform data, and the pathologic eventsof the patients during monitoring and treatment of patients. At the sametime, the patient's trend data, the waveform data, and pathologic eventsare stored in nonvolatile memory (CF memory card). Thereafter, thepathologic events, the trend data, and the waveform data are shown ingraphics by associating the same and taking the generating time of thedata as a handle. The medical staff can then make quick diagnoses onpatients.

With the systems and methods of the present disclosure, the medicalstaff can see the curve trend of a patient's physiological parametersclearly on the medical instruments in real time throughout themonitoring/therapy periods. Moreover, they can make a detailed analysisof the waveform data in real time, thus providing a basis for makingdecisions in the ensuing therapy.

In one embodiment, the defibrillator/monitor has a clinical mode and anonclinical mode. The clinical mode refers to an operation mode in whicha patient may be monitored and treated. In one configuration, theclinical mode is mainly provided for professional medical staff. Theclinical mode includes a monitoring mode, a pacing mode, a manualdefibrillation mode, and an automated external defibrillator (AED) mode.The nonclinical mode refers generally to an operation mode in which thedevice manages and maintains the patient's data. In the nonclinicalmode, the patient cannot be monitored and treated using the device. Thenonclinical mode includes a configuration mode, a self-examination mode,a files management mode, a user maintenance mode, a manufacturermaintenance mode, and a demo mode.

FIG. 1 shows a waveform analysis apparatus 100 for measuring andanalyzing a patient's physiological parameters, which includes a datastorage unit 110, a first physiological parameter acquisition unit 112,a second physiological parameter acquisition unit 114, a pathologicevents acquisition unit 116, and a time selecting unit 118. The firstphysiological parameter acquisition unit 112, second physiologicalparameter acquisition unit 114, and pathologic events acquisition unit116 acquire respective data associated with time from the data storageunit 110, and have these data and their corresponding times displayed ona display area of a display device 120. The display device 120 has atrend display area 122 and a waveform display area 124. The trenddisplay area 122 includes horizontal coordinates and longitudinalcoordinates, which represent time and measurement values respectively.The trend display area 122 is used to display measurement values of thefirst physiological parameter associated with time. The time of thehorizontal coordinates is the time for measuring the first physiologicalparameter. The pathologic events acquisition unit 116 displays apathologic event identifier at a position corresponding to the time whenthis pathologic event takes place in the trend display graph. Thewaveform display area 124 includes time coordinates that represent time,and is used to display the waveform data of the second physiologicalparameter associated with the forming of the first physiologicalparameter. The time on the time coordinates is the time for measuringthe waveform data of the second physiological parameter.

The waveform analysis apparatus 100 may further comprise a firstscrolling key inputting unit 126, a first scrolling key input processingunit 128, and a following altering unit 130. The first scrolling keyinputting unit 126 is used to receive inputs from a scrolling key in thewaveform display area 124 when the waveform display area 124 is in anactive state. The first scrolling key input processing unit 128 is usedto control the second physiological parameter acquisition unit 114according to the inputs received by the first scrolling key inputtingunit 126, so as to alter a time at the time coordinates in the waveformdisplay area 124 and the waveform data of the second physiologicalparameter corresponding to said time.

The following altering unit 130 is used to control the firstphysiological parameter acquisition unit 112 so as to alter the time atthe horizontal coordinates and the measurement value of the firstphysiological parameter corresponding to said time in the trend displaygraph, by following the altering of the time at the time coordinates inthe waveform display area 124.

The waveform analysis apparatus 100 may further comprise a secondscrolling key inputting unit (not shown) and a second scrolling keyinput processing unit (not shown). The second scrolling key inputtingunit is used to receive inputs from a scrolling key in the trend displayarea 122 when the trend display area 122 is in an active state. Thesecond scrolling key input processing unit is used to control the firstphysiological parameter acquisition unit according to the inputsreceived by the second scrolling key inputting unit, so as to alter thetime at the horizontal coordinates and the measurement value of thefirst physiological parameter corresponding to said time in the waveformdisplay area 124.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the data storage unit 110 includes ahigh-speed RAM and a CF card for storing patient data.

FIG. 2 shows a process 200 for generating the patient data according toone embodiment. When a defibrillator/monitor enters 210 the clinicalmode (e.g., enters when powering on or switching from nonclinical mode),it automatically creates 212 a new patient session or record in oneembodiment. A series of data generated during the subsequentmonitoring/therapy 214 of the patient is recorded automatically inrelation to the current patient's name or other identifier. The datagenerated 216 during the processes of monitoring/therapy are stored 218in the RAM of the defibrillator/monitor in real time. The systemtransfers 220 the data in the RAM to the CF card in thedefibrillator/monitor at a predetermined time interval (such as 10seconds), repeatedly. Therefore, in one embodiment, the patient data aregenerated and stored in the CF card continuously.

During the monitoring/therapy of the patient, the apparatus may bepowered off or may enter 222 into the nonclinical mode. Thereafter, thestorage of the patient data is automatically stopped 224, and thecurrent patient data are stored 226 in the archives to form a newhistorical patient record. Thus, in one embodiment, the data of thepatient is terminated immediately when powering off or when enteringinto the nonclinical mode is finished.

As a result, the data generated during monitoring/therapy by thedefibrillator/monitor are stored in the memory of thedefibrillator/monitor. As shown in FIG. 3, these data are storedgenerally under three categories, which are pathological event data 310,trend data 312, and waveform data 314.

In one embodiment, when the patient data are generated, the main systemprocessing unit (CPU) of the apparatus stores the contents of the dataand the data generating time (e.g., in seconds) in the system memoryunit. Thereafter, the system periodically stores the patient data andthe time in a nonvolatile memory device (e.g., CF-Memory 316 shown inFIG. 3), and generates a time identifier. During the storing, a dataindex logic table is built to associate the data by setting the time asa primary key.

During intermissions of the monitoring and/or therapy, the medical staffmay enter the waveform analysis interface through a system menu to makea pathologic analysis on patient's holographic waveforms.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method for waveform analysis. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 4, at step S2, the first physiological parameter acquisitionunit 112 acquires measurement values of the first physiologicalparameter associated with time, and displays them on a trend displayarea 122 comprising horizontal coordinates and longitudinal coordinates,which represent time and measurement values, respectively, on a displaydevice. The time at the horizontal coordinates in the trend display area122 is a time for measuring the first physiological parameter. At thesame time, the pathologic event acquisition unit 116 displays apathologic event identifier at a position corresponding to the time ofthe pathologic event in the trend display graph. Thereafter, the methodproceeds to step S4.

At step S4, the time selecting unit 118 acquires the time selected inthe trend display graph. Although not shown, the time selecting unit 118comprises a cursor, a cursor monitoring unit, and a time display unit.The cursor is moved in the trend display area 122. The cursor monitoringunit can acquire the time corresponding to the cursor's coordinateposition as the cursor is moving. The time display unit displays thetime acquired by the cursor monitoring unit in the vicinity of thecursor identifier (e.g., behind the cursor) inside the trend displaygraph. The cursor monitoring unit acquires the time corresponding tothis position as a selecting time by making the cursor stay stationaryfor a period of time (e.g., two seconds) or clicking to select a certainposition. Thereafter, the method proceeds to step S6.

At step S6, the second physiological parameter acquisition unit 114acquires the waveform data of the second physiological parameter, whichare associated with the formation of the first physiological parameter,in the periods before and after the selected time. Moreover, it displaysthese data in the waveform display area 124 on the display device 120,which includes time coordinates, such that the time at the timecoordinates in the waveform display area 124 is the time for measuringthe waveform data of the second physiological parameter.

The waveform analysis graph created by the above steps is shown as FIG.5. In one embodiment, the waveform analysis interface 500 is dividedinto two main portions: the upper portion is the trend display area 122of physiological parameters, and the lower portion is the waveformdisplay area 124 of physiological waveforms. However, in alternativeembodiments, the lower portion may be the trend display area 122 ofphysiological parameters, while the upper portion is the waveformdisplay area 124 of physiological waveforms. The trend display area 122shows a patient's physiological parameter trend graph 510 and identifiesthe pathologic events. The waveform display area 124 shows a patient'sholographic waveforms 512 during monitoring and/or therapy. Thepositions of the trend display area 122 and waveform display area 124are interchangeable.

The trend display area 122 and the waveform display area 124 aredescribed in detail below.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram displaying the trend display area 122,which includes a name 610 of a physiological parameter (e.g., heart rate(HR)), parameter coordinates 612 (e.g., beats per minute), event icons614 (four shown), a positioning cursor 616, a cursor time 618, anend-point gauge 620, a time scale 622, and an area without data 624.

Several (e.g., five) scales are shown on a time coordinate axis 626,which divide the time coordinate axis 626 into four parts equally. Eachpart indicates 15 minutes, i.e., there are 60 minutes total. There arethree time scales 622 under the time coordinate axis 626. They arelocated at the left, middle, and right of the axis 626. The time scalesare displayed such that they descend from the right side to the leftside. A next page of the graph 510 may be displayed by operating a “nextpaging” key (see, e.g., the “next page” key 514 in FIG. 5) in the trendarea 122 so as to review trend graphs 510 of other time periods.

The name 610 of the first physiological parameter, such as HR (heartrate), is shown on the top of the parameter coordinate axis 612.Alternatively, the first physiological parameter may also be set as, forexample, ST, blood oxygen saturation, or heart pulse cycle. Theparameter coordinates 612 indicate three scales from the top side tobottom side. The values of the parameters are displayed in a descendingsequence from the top side to the bottom side.

A positioning cursor 616 is provided in the trend display area 122 toposition a specific time point for conveniently reviewing the trend andwaveforms in the waveform display area 124. After a “scrolling” key(see, e.g., the view key 516 in FIG. 5) in the trend display area 122 ispressed, the positioning cursor 616 can be moved by scrolling a rotaryencoder. The time 618 of the cursor's current position is shown behindthe positioning cursor in real time. If the positioning cursor 616 hasbeen positioned at a specific time point over a certain period of time(e.g., one second or two seconds), the waveform data in the waveformdisplay area 124 are refreshed dynamically to display the physiologicalparameter waveforms 512 within several seconds before and after thistime point (in one embodiment it is set as two seconds at default, andthe length of the waveforms 512 can be changed by selecting the speed ofthe waveforms 512).

On the top of the trend graph 510, the events are labeled with the eventicons 614 (e.g., triangle icons). These event icons 614 indicate thatcorresponding pathologic events have taken place at these time points(such as drug applying events, physiological alarming events, shockingevents, etc.).

The trend graph 510 is composed of several vertical lines, each of whichrepresents a time point, and the length of each line (in this exampleembodiment) represents the patient's HR value at this time point. The HRvalue may also be represented by a dot. In such an embodiment, thelongitudinal coordinate of the dot represents the HR value.

In the trend graph 510, the blank area 624 indicates that there are noeffective physiological parameter measurement values during the periodof time corresponding to the area 624.

The trend graph 510 provides a real-time refreshing function, and thetrend graph 510 is thereby refreshed dynamically as time elapses.

At the end of the trend data, the end-point gauge 620 is identified toindicate that the patient's trend data ends at this time point. Theend-point gauge 620 moves to the right dynamically as the time elapses(e.g., a dynamically refreshing function of the trend data).

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a waveform display area 124, whichincludes a waveform name and gain 710, 22 a waveform dimension 712, thewaveform 512 of the second physiological parameter, a grid 714, a timescale 716, and an event name 718.

In one embodiment, the waveform display area 124 includes three timescales 716 labeled below a time coordinate axis 720; one is located atthe left, one is located in the middle, and one is located at the right.The time coordinate in the middle of the waveform display area 124 isthe time for the positioning cursor 616 of the trend display area 122.The time scales 716 are displayed in a descending sequence from right toleft.

The time scales vary in accordance with the wave speed. That is, thefaster the wave speed is, the shorter the waveform is, for example:

1) When the wave speed is 6.25 mm/s, there are 17 scales displayed onthe time coordinate axis 720, which divide the time coordinate axis 720into 16 parts equally. Each part indicates one second; that is, thereare 16 seconds total.

2) When the wave speed is 12.5 mm/s, there are nine scales displayed onthe time coordinate axis 720, which divide the time coordinate axis 720into eight parts equally. Each part indicates one second; that is, thereare eight seconds total.

3) When the wave speed is 25 mm/s, there are five scales displayed onthe time coordinate axis 720, which divide the time coordinate axis 720into four parts equally. Each part indicates one second; that is, thereare four seconds total.

4) When the wave speed is 50 mm/s, there are three scales displayed onthe time coordinate axis 720, which divide the time coordinate axis 720into two parts equally. Each part indicates one second; that is, thereare two seconds total.

The waveforms 512 at other time points can be reviewed using a“scrolling” key (e.g., see the “viewing” key 518 in FIG. 5) and a “nextpage” key (e.g., see the “next page” key in FIG. 5).

The second physiological parameter may be, for example, an ECG(electrocardiogram) parameter. In such an embodiment, the ECG gauge 712is displayed in the waveform display area 124 to measure a magnitude ofthe ECG waveform 512.

In one embodiment, the physiological parameter waveform 512 may bezoomed in or out by selecting different wave speeds. The waveforminformation may contain the waveform names and gains 710, and wavefiltering modes. It may be displayed at the top left corner of thewaveform area 124 in one implementation.

The waveform area 124 may be provided with a grid 714 to measure thelength of the waveform 512 and determine the form of the waveform 512,for example, ST diagnostics.

The pathologic event name 718 may be displayed below the time scale 716of the waveform area 124 to indicate that a pathologic event takes placeat this time. The above-mentioned time may also be provided on thelongitudinal coordinates, and the measurement value may also be providedat the horizontal coordinates.

Detailed descriptions of several example embodiments are provided above.However, the invention is not restricted to these example embodiments.Without departing from the scope of the invention, those skilled in thisart may make changes and modifications, which will all fall into theclaims of the invention.

Furthermore, the described features, operations, or characteristics maybe combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It willalso be readily understood that the order of the steps or actions of themethods described in connection with the embodiments disclosed may bechanged as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, anyorder in the drawings or Detailed Description is for illustrativepurposes only and is not meant to imply a required order, unlessspecified to require an order.

Embodiments may include various steps, which may be embodied inmachine-executable instructions to be executed by a general-purpose orspecial-purpose computer (or other electronic device). Alternatively,the steps may be performed by hardware components that include specificlogic for performing the steps or by a combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware.

Embodiments may also be provided as a computer program product includinga machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that may beused to program a computer (or other electronic device) to performprocesses described herein. The machine-readable medium may include, butis not limited to, hard drives, floppy diskettes, optical disks,CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or opticalcards, solid-state memory devices, or other types ofmedia/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronicinstructions.

As used herein, a software module or component may include any type ofcomputer instruction or computer executable code located within a memorydevice and/or transmitted as electronic signals over a system bus orwired or wireless network. A software module may, for instance, compriseone or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions, whichmay be organized as a routine, program, object, component, datastructure, etc., that performs one or more tasks or implementsparticular abstract data types.

In certain embodiments, a particular software module may comprisedisparate instructions stored in different locations of a memory device,which together implement the described functionality of the module.Indeed, a module may comprise a single instruction or many instructions,and may be distributed over several different code segments, amongdifferent programs, and across several memory devices. Some embodimentsmay be practiced in a distributed computing environment where tasks areperformed by a remote processing device linked through a communicationsnetwork. In a distributed computing environment, software modules may belocated in local and/or remote memory storage devices. In addition, databeing tied or rendered together in a database record may be resident inthe same memory device, or across several memory devices, and may belinked together in fields of a record in a database across a network.

It will be understood by those having skill in the art that many changesmay be made to the details of the above-described embodiments withoutdeparting from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope ofthe present invention should, therefore, be determined only by thefollowing claims.

1. A method used in an apparatus for waveform analysis of physiologicalparameters, the apparatus including a physiological parameteracquisition unit and a display device, the method comprising: reading,using the physiological parameter acquisition unit, measurement valuesand corresponding times of a first physiological parameter, anddisplaying them as a trend display graph in a trend display area of thedisplay device, the trend display area comprising a first coordinate anda second coordinate that represent the times and the measurement values,respectively; acquiring a time selected in the trend display graph;displaying, in a waveform display area of the display device, waveformdata of a second physiological parameter associated with the formationof the first physiological parameter during predetermined periods beforeand after the selected time, the waveform display area comprising timecoordinates representing waveform time; and displaying a pathologicevent identifier at a position corresponding to a time when a pathologicevent takes place.
 2. The method according to claim 1, whereinmagnitudes of the measurement values of the first physiologicalparameter are represented by lengths of respective lines.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 2, further comprising: displaying an end-point gaugeat an end point of the trend graph, the end-point gauge indicating anend of data corresponding to the first physiological parameter; andmoving the end-point gauge dynamically as time elapses.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein acquiring the selected time comprises:positioning a cursor in the trend display graph at the selected time. 5.The method according to claim 4, further comprising: receiving thecoordinate position of the cursor; and displaying a time correspondingto the coordinate position of the cursor proximate to the cursor in thetrend display graph.
 6. The method according to claim 4, furthercomprising: displaying a middle time on the time coordinates of thewaveform display area, wherein the middle time is the time selected bythe cursor.
 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:displaying a gauge in the waveform display area for measuring amagnitude of the second physiological parameter.
 8. The method accordingto claim 6, further comprising: receiving inputs from a scrolling key inthe waveform display area when the waveform display area is in an activestate; altering a time on the time coordinates of the waveform displayarea and the waveform data of the second physiological parametercorresponding to the time; and altering a time on the first coordinatesof the trend display graph and a measurement value of the firstphysiological parameter corresponding to the time in accordance with thealtering of the time on the first coordinates of the waveform displayarea.
 9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: varying alength of the displayed waveform data of the second physiologicalparameter in the waveform display area according to a user-selectablewave speed, wherein the faster the wave speed, the shorter a waveformcorresponding to the waveform data displayed in the waveform displayarea.
 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: storingthe measurement values of the first physiological parameter, thewaveform data of the second physiological parameter, pathologic eventdata, and the time corresponding to when the pathologic event takesplace, in a data storage device; and setting the time corresponding towhen the pathologic event takes place as a primary key to build an indexlogic table including data and time so as to associate the data duringthe storing step.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the firstphysiological parameter is a heart rate, and the second physiologicalparameter is electrocardiogram data.
 12. An apparatus for waveformanalysis of physiological parameters, comprising: a display deviceconfigured to display graphs, the display device comprising: a trenddisplay area to display measurement values with respect to time of afirst physiological parameter, wherein the trend display area comprisesfirst coordinates and second coordinates that represent times formeasuring the first physiological parameters and the measurement values,respectively; and a waveform display area to display waveform data of asecond physiological parameter associated with formation of the firstphysiological parameter, the waveform display area comprising timecoordinates representing times for measuring the second physiologicalparameters; and a pathologic event data acquisition unit to acquirepathologic event data associated with time, and display a pathologicevent identifier on the display device at a position corresponding tothe time when said pathologic event takes place.
 13. The apparatusaccording to claim 12, further comprising: a first physiologicalparameter acquisition unit to acquire measurement values of the firstphysiological parameter and the times thereof, and display them on thetrend display area; a time selecting unit to acquire a selected time inthe trend display graph; and a second physiological parameteracquisition unit to acquire waveform data of the second physiologicalparameter associated with the formation of the first physiologicalparameter during predetermined periods before and after the selectedtime thereof, and display them on the waveform display area.
 14. Theapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the time selecting unitcomprises: a cursor to select coordinate positions by allowing a user tomove and position the cursor; and a cursor monitoring unit to acquire atime corresponding to the cursor's coordinate position while the cursormoves.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: atime display unit to display a time acquired by the cursor monitoringunit in the trend display graph.
 16. The apparatus according to claim12, further comprising: a first scrolling key inputting unit to receiveinputs of a scrolling key in the waveform display area while thewaveform display area is in an active state; a first scrolling key inputprocessing unit to control the second physiological parameteracquisition unit according to the inputs received by the first scrollingkey inputting unit so as to alter a time on the time coordinates in thewaveform display area and the waveform data of the second physiologicalparameter corresponding to said time; and a following altering unit tocontrol the first physiological parameter acquisition unit so as toalter a time on the first coordinates in the trend display graph and themeasurement value of the first physiological parameter corresponding tosaid altered time in accordance with the altering of the time at thetime coordinates in the waveform display area.
 17. The apparatusaccording to claim 12, further comprising: a data storage unit to storethe measurement values of the first physiological parameter, thewaveform data of the second physiological parameter, the pathologicevent data, and the corresponding time when the pathologic event takesplace in a storage device, and to set the time as a primary key to buildan index logic table including data and time so as to associate the dataduring the storing.
 18. An apparatus, comprising: means for acquiring ameasurement value of a first physiological parameter associated with atime at which the measurement value is acquired; means for displayingthe measurement values and the corresponding time in a display device'strend display area; means for acquiring a selected time in the trenddisplay area; means for acquiring waveform data of a secondphysiological parameter associated with formation of the firstphysiological parameter during predetermined periods before and afterthe selected time thereof; means for displaying the waveform data in awaveform display area of the display device; and means for displaying apathologic event identifier at a position corresponding to a time when apathologic event takes place.
 19. A computer-readable medium comprisingprogram code for performing a method used in an apparatus for analyzingphysiological parameters, the apparatus including a physiologicalparameter acquisition unit and a display device, the method comprising:reading, using the physiological parameter acquisition unit, measurementvalues and corresponding times of a first physiological parameter, anddisplaying them as a trend display graph in a trend display area of thedisplay device, the trend display area comprising first coordinates anda second coordinates that represent the times and the measurementvalues, respectively; acquiring a time selected in the trend displaygraph; displaying, in a waveform display area of the display device,waveform data of a second physiological parameter associated with theformation of the first physiological parameter during predeterminedperiods before and after the selected time, the waveform display areacomprising time coordinates representing waveform time; and displaying apathological event identifier in at least one of the trend display areaand the waveform display area at a position corresponding to a time whena pathological event takes place.
 20. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 19, wherein acquiring the selected time comprises: allowing a userto position a cursor in the trend display graph at the selected time.21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, the method furthercomprising: receiving a coordinate position of the cursor; anddisplaying a time corresponding to the coordinate position of the cursorin the trend display area.
 22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21,the method further comprising: displaying indicia of the timecorresponding to the coordinate position of the cursor in the waveformdisplay area.
 23. A method used in an apparatus for waveform analysis ofphysiological parameters, the apparatus including a physiologicalparameter acquisition unit and a display device, the method comprising:reading, using the physiological parameter acquisition unit, measurementvalues and corresponding times of a first physiological parameter, anddisplaying them as a trend display graph in a trend display area of thedisplay device, the trend display area comprising a first coordinate anda second coordinate that represent the times and the measurement values,respectively; acquiring a time selected in the trend display graph;displaying, in a waveform display area of the display device, waveformdata of a second physiological parameter associated with the formationof the first physiological parameter during predetermined periods beforeand after the selected time, the waveform display area comprising timecoordinates representing waveform time; and varying a length of thedisplayed waveform data of the second physiological parameter in thewaveform display area according to a user-selectable wave speed, whereinthe faster the wave speed, the shorter a waveform corresponding to thewaveform data displayed in the waveform display area.
 24. The methodaccording to claim 23, wherein magnitudes of the measurement values ofthe first physiological parameter are represented by lengths ofrespective lines.
 25. The method according to claim 24, furthercomprising: displaying an end-point gauge at an end point of the trendgraph, the end-point gauge indicating an end of data corresponding tothe first physiological parameter; and moving the end-point gaugedynamically as time elapses.
 26. The method according to claim 23,wherein acquiring the selected time comprises: positioning a cursor inthe trend display graph at the selected time.
 27. The method accordingto claim 26, further comprising: receiving the coordinate position ofthe cursor; and displaying a time corresponding to the coordinateposition of the cursor proximate to the cursor in the trend displaygraph.
 28. The method according to claim 26, further comprising:displaying a middle time on the time coordinates of the waveform displayarea, wherein the middle time is the time selected by the cursor. 29.The method according to claim 28, further comprising: displaying a gaugein the waveform display area for measuring a magnitude of the secondphysiological parameter.
 30. The method according to claim 28, furthercomprising: receiving inputs from a scrolling key in the waveformdisplay area when the waveform display area is in an active state;altering a time on the time coordinates of the waveform display area andthe waveform data of the second physiological parameter corresponding tothe time; and altering a time on the first coordinates of the trenddisplay graph and a measurement value of the first physiologicalparameter corresponding to the time in accordance with the altering ofthe time on the first coordinates of the waveform display area.
 31. Themethod according to claim 30, further comprising: displaying apathologic event identifier at a position corresponding to a time when apathologic event takes place.
 32. The method according to claim 31,further comprising: storing the measurement values of the firstphysiological parameter, the waveform data of the second physiologicalparameter, pathologic event data, and the time corresponding to when thepathologic event takes place, in a data storage device; and setting thetime corresponding to when the pathologic event takes place as a primarykey to build an index logic table including data and time so as toassociate the data during the storing step.
 33. The method according toclaim 23, wherein the first physiological parameter is a heart rate, andthe second physiological parameter is electrocardiogram data.
 34. Anapparatus for waveform analysis of physiological parameters, comprising:a display device configured to display graphs, the display devicecomprising: a trend display area to display measurement values withrespect to time of a first physiological parameter, wherein the trenddisplay area comprises first coordinates and second coordinates thatrepresent times for measuring the first physiological parameters and themeasurement values, respectively; and a waveform display area to displaywaveform data of a second physiological parameter associated withformation of the first physiological parameter, the waveform displayarea comprising time coordinates representing times for measuring thesecond physiological parameters, wherein the display device isconfigured to vary a length of the displayed waveform data of the secondphysiological parameter in the waveform display area according to auser-selectable wave speed, wherein the faster the wave speed, theshorter a waveform corresponding to the waveform data displayed in thewaveform display area.
 35. The apparatus according to claim 34, furthercomprising: a first physiological parameter acquisition unit to acquiremeasurement values of the first physiological parameter and the timesthereof, and display them on the trend display area; a time selectingunit to acquire a selected time in the trend display graph; and a secondphysiological parameter acquisition unit to acquire waveform data of thesecond physiological parameter associated with the formation of thefirst physiological parameter during predetermined periods before andafter the selected time thereof, and display them on the waveformdisplay area.
 36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the timeselecting unit comprises: a cursor to select coordinate positions byallowing a user to move and position the cursor; and a cursor monitoringunit to acquire a time corresponding to the cursor's coordinate positionwhile the cursor moves.
 37. The apparatus according to claim 36, furthercomprising: a time display unit to display a time acquired by the cursormonitoring unit in the trend display graph.
 38. The apparatus accordingto claim 34, further comprising: a first scrolling key inputting unit toreceive inputs of a scrolling key in the waveform display area while thewaveform display area is in an active state; a first scrolling key inputprocessing unit to control the second physiological parameteracquisition unit according to the inputs received by the first scrollingkey inputting unit so as to alter a time on the time coordinates in thewaveform display area and the waveform data of the second physiologicalparameter corresponding to said time; and a following altering unit tocontrol the first physiological parameter acquisition unit so as toalter a time on the first coordinates in the trend display graph and themeasurement value of the first physiological parameter corresponding tosaid altered time in accordance with the altering of the time at thetime coordinates in the waveform display area.
 39. The apparatusaccording to claim 38, further comprising: a pathologic event dataacquisition unit to acquire pathologic event data associated with time,and display a pathologic event identifier at a position corresponding tothe time when said pathologic event takes place.
 40. The apparatusaccording to claim 39, further comprising: a data storage unit to storethe measurement values of the first physiological parameter, thewaveform data of the second physiological parameter, the pathologicevent data, and the corresponding time when the pathologic event takesplace in a storage device, and to set the time as a primary key to buildan index logic table including data and time so as to associate the dataduring the storing.